25 Birds with Ears (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of birds with ears include horned lark, stitchbird, black-necked grebe, the eared pheasants, penguins, and owls.

Birds are known for their exceptional sense of hearing. While many people know that birds can hear higher frequencies than humans, what they may not know is that some birds have ear flaps that help them amplify sound.

These ear flaps, or auricles, are characteristic of species such as the barn owl and the American kestrel. By folding their auricles in different ways, these birds can tune into sound from a variety of directions. This allows them to locate prey and predators with pinpoint accuracy.

Additionally, many birds use vocalizations to communicate with other members of their species, and the ability to hear these calls clearly is essential for their survival.

Examples of Birds with Ears

1. Adélie Penguin

The Adélie penguin is a species of penguin found along the entire coastline of Antarctica. These birds are well-adapted to life in the coldest continent on Earth, and their sense of hearing plays a role in this.

Adélies use vocalizations to communicate with other members of their colony, and they have evolved to hear these calls even when they are partially obscured by ice.

This ability to hear through the ice is an important survival mechanism for these penguins, as it allows them to stay aware of potential predators and locate their mates and chicks.

2. African Penguin

The African penguin is a species of penguin that is native to the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. These penguins are distinctive in their black and white plumage, as well as their pink feet. African penguins are also known for their loud vocalizations, which can be heard from over a mile away.

3. Barn Owl

The barn owl is a nocturnal bird, meaning that it is most active at night. To help them hunt in the dark, they have developed some unique adaptations. One of these is their ear flaps, which they can swivel independently to focus on sound coming from different directions.

Another adaptation that helps the barn owl hunt at night is its facial disk. This disk funnels sound waves towards the owl’s ears, making it easier for them to hear prey that might be hidden in the darkness.

4. Black-Necked Grebe

The black-necked grebe is a waterbird that is found in marshes and lakes around the world. These birds have long, thin necks and black-and-white plumage. They are excellent swimmers and can often be seen diving for fish.

What sets the black-necked grebe apart from other waterbirds is its unique method of hearing. These birds have special ear openings that are located on the sides of their heads. These ear openings are connected to the Grebe’s middle ear by a thin layer of skin.

This arrangement allows the black-necked grebe to hear sounds that are underwater, which is helpful for locating prey.

5. Eared Owls

The ear flaps of the eared owl are among the most interesting in the bird world. These ear flaps can be rotated independently of each other, allowing the owl to home in on the faintest of sounds.

6. Eastern Rockhopper Penguin

The Rockhopper Penguin is a small species of penguin that is found on various islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean. These birds are known for their loud, raucous calls, which they use to communicate with other members of their species.

Their calls can be heard up to 2 kilometers away, and their sense of hearing is so acute that they can even detect the calls of other Rockhopper Penguins that are hidden behind rocks or vegetation.

7. Eastern Screech Owl

The Eastern Screech Owl is a small owl with ear tufts. They are 8-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 20 inches. Their upper parts are grey or brown, and their underparts are white with brown streaks.

These owls hunt at night, using their exceptional sense of hearing to locate prey. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals, such as mice.

8. Emperor Penguin

The emperor penguin is the largest member of the penguin family. It is also the only penguin that breeds during the Antarctic winter.

The emperor penguin has several adaptations that help it survive in its harsh environment. One of these adaptations is its ear design.

The emperor penguin has a small opening on the side of its head that leads to the ear canal. This opening is protected by a dense layer of feathers. The ear canal is very short, and it ends in a blind sac.

9. Fiordland Penguin

The Fiordland penguin is a species of penguin that is endemic to New Zealand. These penguins are one of the largest species of penguins, and they are also one of the loudest. In fact, their calls can reach up to 115 decibels, which is as loud as a jet engine.

10. Gentoo Penguin

The Gentoo penguin is a species of penguin that is easily recognizable by the large white stripe that extends from above its eye to the back of its head. This penguin is also characterized by its orange-red beak and webbed feet.

Gentoo penguins are found in the sub-Antarctic regions of the Southern Hemisphere. They breed on the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as on many sub-Antarctic islands, such as the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Macquarie Island.

11. Horned Lark

This small brown bird has black streaks on its chest and a black “horn” protruding from the top of its head. The horned lark is found in open habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia. It uses its sense of hearing to find food, avoid predators, and communicate with other members of its species.

12. King Penguin

The king penguin is a large species of penguin that is found on the sub-Antarctic islands. These birds have black upperparts and white underparts, and they are easily recognizable by their orange-yellow plumage. The king penguin is the second-largest penguin species, after the emperor penguin.

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The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin, and it is also one of the few penguin species that has ear flaps. These ear flaps help the Little Penguin to hear both high- and low-pitched sounds.

This is important for the Little Penguin, as it uses vocalizations to communicate with other members of its species. The Little Penguin is also able to use its ear flaps to amplify sounds from a distance, which is helpful for locating prey and predators.

14. Long-Eared Owl

Long-Eared Owl: One of the most well-known birds with ear flaps is the long-eared owl. This owl has two ear tufts, or feathers, that help to camouflage its head.

The long-eared owl is found in woodlands and forests across Europe, Asia, and North America. It preys on small mammals such as voles, mice, and shrews.

To hunt, this owl perches on a branch and listens for the sound of its prey scurrying through the leaves. When it hears something, it swoops down and grabs the animal with its talons.

15. Macaroni Penguin

The largest of the crested penguins, the macaroni penguin is easily recognizable by its bright orange-yellow plumes. These plumes, which extend from the bird’s head all the way down its back, are used to attract mates.

16. Magellanic Penguin

The auricles of the Magellanic penguin are black and white. When they are hunting, they often face into the wind to better hear their prey.

17. Royal Penguin

The royal penguin is a species of penguin that is found on the sub-Antarctic islands. These birds have black upperparts and white underparts, with a white band extending from behind the eye to the side of the neck.

The royal penguin is the largest member of the Eudyptes genus, which also includes the rockhopper penguin and the macaroni penguin.

These birds are known for their loud calls, which they use to communicate with other members of their species. The royal penguin has excellent hearing, which allows it to locate its mates and chicks in the vast expanses of the sub-Antarctic regions.

18. Scops Owl

The ear openings of the Scops owl are hidden by feathers, but if you look closely, you can see them on the sides of its head.

19. Short-Eared Owl

The short-eared owl is a nocturnal bird of prey. It has ear tufts, which are actually feathers, not ears. These feathers help to camouflage the owl when it is roosting during the day. The owl’s actual ears are located beneath these feathery tufts.

The short-eared owl has excellent hearing, which it uses to locate prey. The owl can hear the slightest rustle of leaves or the flutter of a small animal’s heartbeat. This allows the short-eared owl to swoop down on its prey with great speed and accuracy.

20. Snares Penguin

Snares penguins are a type of penguin that is found on the Snares Islands off the coast of New Zealand. These penguins are known for their exceptional sense of hearing. Their ear flaps, or auricles, help them amplify sound, which allows them to locate prey and predators with pinpoint accuracy. Additionally, their ability to hear vocalizations clearly is essential for their survival.

21. Southern Rockhopper Penguin

The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is a small species of penguin that is found on the sub-Antarctic Islands. These birds have black and white plumage, and their faces are marked with orange and yellow patches. They are also known for their loud, raucous calls.

The Southern Rockhopper Penguin has ear flaps that help it amplify sound. These ear flaps allow the penguin to hear the calls of other penguins, which is essential for its survival.

22. Stitchbird

The stitchbird, or hihi, is a small passerine bird endemic to New Zealand. This brightly colored little bird is easily recognizable by its striking orange breast and black wing bars. The stitchbird is also known for its unusual call, which sounds like a sewing machine stitching.

Despite its small size, the stitchbird has excellent hearing. This is due to its large ear openings, which are covered by thin skin instead of feathers. The stitchbird uses its keen sense of hearing to locate food and avoid predators.

23. The Eared Pheasants

The ear flaps on the eared pheasants are more like tufts of feathers than actual flaps. These feather tufts help to funnel sound into the bird’s ears, which are located on the sides of its head.

Related Article: Do Blood Pheasant Looks Like Chicken?

24. True Owl

The true owls or typical owls are one of the two main groups of owls, the other being the barn owls. Ear tufts, which are not truly ears but feather extensions, are found in this group. All have large forward-facing eyes and hooks at the ends of their beaks.

25. Yellow-Eyed Penguin

Yellow-eyed penguins are known for their exceptional sense of hearing. While many people know that penguins can hear higher frequencies than humans, what they may not know is that yellow-eyed penguins have ear flaps that help them amplify sound.

These ear flaps, or auricles, are characteristic of this species of penguin. By folding their auricles in different ways, these penguins can tune into sound from a variety of directions. This allows them to locate prey and predators with pinpoint accuracy.

Conclusion

By rotating their ear flaps, owls are able to hone in on the faintest of sounds. This allows them to locate prey that might be hidden in the darkness. Additionally, African penguins use vocalizations to communicate with other members of their colony, and can also use their calls to determine the location of others.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.